Have you ever wondered how detrimental are normal rubber tires for the environment? Do you know that approximately 1 billion end-of-life tires are produced every year? Moreover, the other shocking fact is that currently, 4 billion such end-of-life tires are in stockpiles and landfills worldwide. Car tires are not only proven to be pernicious to the air but also to the oceans.
Below are some alarming data which are instilling a thought of finding an alternative solution to conventional tires.
- Approximately, 2000 times more particle pollution is generated by tire wear than from the exhaust of modern cars.
- A recent study estimated that 1.5 million metric tons of tire particles get an entry in the US environment.
- The tire particles accounted for 5 to 10% of the ocean’s plastic pollution.
- 8768 tonnes of wear and tear wastes ended up in the environment, out of which 12% ended as air pollutants and 67% entered the soil.
To overcome this humongous problem, automakers are taking the pain to reduce the negative points of the vehicles. The researchers have introduced green tires in the business. These tires were developed back in the early 1990s with a special feature of Silica element. In this article, we will dive deep into the various aspects related to green tires such as their benefits, uses, futuristic scope, etc.
What are Green Tires?
The endeavors to make eco-friendly tires are increasing with an emphasis on minimizing the raw materials, especially 5-10 gallons of petroleum ingredients. According to Forrest Patterson, Technical Director, recently said, “We found that approximately 86% of the tire’s environment impact rotate around how it affects fuel consumption. Since 12% of the Co2 emissions associated with tires arise from the manufacturing and raw materials.”
Various companies are cutting back the volume of carbon black filler which is usually manufactured from coal, oil, or charcoal. This increases the amount of the fuel-saving filler and the vegetable processing oil was replaced with petroleum. Moreover, some compounds were replaced with fibers made from plant cellulose. The manufacturers are trying to introduce 97% non-petroleum material-based eco-safe tires. Some innovative techniques have been used such as using orange oil compound, sunflower oil was introduced in the United States market.
Also, the prominent material to be used is silica but other than this, rubber, carbon black, and oil will be used as raw materials.
In fact, scientists at Oregon State University have been relentlessly trying to make tires using organic substances which can be made from numerous plant fibers. These green tires come up with enhanced rolling resistance and reduced fuel consumption. Let us now discuss the various benefits of eco-safe tires.
Benefits of the Green Tire
Green tires are not only better for the environment, but they can also help in saving money in the long run. Below written are some of the key benefits of green tires-
- Enhanced safety – These green tires render better grip and handling than conventional tires.
- Decreased fuel consumption – Green tires are fabricated for improved fuel economy and reduced rolling resistance. A test showed that the green tires used approximately 2.35 liters less diesel in the ride of 100 km than the conventional tires. The tires are considered a significant determiner of fuel consumption in automobiles.
- Narrowed noise pollution – These biodegradable tires are designed to reduce noise pollution and give a calmer ride.
- Environment friendly – As eco tires are designed from a wide range of recycled or natural materials.
- Durable – The green tires are fabricated to last longer than the conventional tires, which means these are not required to replace more often.
Future Scope of the Green Tire
On the back of rising environmental concerns, green tires are expected to remain in demand in the future. Various companies such as Apollo have decided to take a crucial step in order to develop tires made up of 75% green materials. This is considered a big milestone in the quest to curb pollution.
According to Research Nester analysis, the global green tires market is anticipated to garner a revenue of USD 80 billion by the end of 2033 by rising at a CAGR of ~9% during the forecast period, i.e., 2023-2033. Our subject matter experts also found a list of the most sustainable tire companies that are dominating the global green tires market, a few of them of which are as follows-
- Michelin Green X Tires
- Bridhestone Ecopia Tires
- Yokohama
- Hankook Kontrol Technology Tires
- Good year Assurance Fuel Max Tires
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde Tires
Some of the recent developments observed in this domain are –
- In April 2023, JK Tire launched UX green tires made up of recycled and sustainable materials
- A prominent company Bridgestone committed to investing approximately 266.1 million Euros into 3 key European production sites. This is further used to expand plant production.
As per our analysis, the next decade has great opportunity for tire manufacturers as companies worldwide are putting in efforts to go eco-friendly and thereby make profits. Also, supportive government regulations on the development of environmentally friendly tires would also help tire manufacturers achieve a larger scoop of the overall market share in the coming years.
Conclusion-
By 2033, the market for green tires is definitely expected to grow enormously. Tire companies are cutting down on utilizing harmful raw materials. Hence, in the coming times, as these tires are becoming an imperative aspect in the automotive industry, green tires will be widely used.
Source:-https://www.researchnester.com/reports/green-tires-market/4470
